Graduation Party

For last week’s graduation/birthday party, we used a few small touches to make the atmosphere festive.  I want to share what we did because it was so simple and inexpensive.

To see the idea that sparked a party theme done in BYU school colors, click here .

In addition to that, we added a few more things for a great blue and white party.  We opted for a simple menu:  shredded barbecue beef sandwiches, veggies and dip, fruit and dip, chips.  To dress it up we lined the kitchen counter with blue and white table runners and served the food in beautiful dishes.


I used this idea to whip up a bunch of blue and white napkin rings out of a $1.50 spool of ribbon.  This project literally took less than 10 minutes.


I found some blue and white York peppermint candies to add color.  You could get m&m’s in any school color combination.


In the dining room I used a blue and white tablecloth, then took a little walk around the house looking for a few blue or white things.  I came up with a blue ice bucket, filled it with stars, and added a couple of little chalkboard garden markers to write messages on.  (We scored the garden markers at my local craft store for $1.24 each.  They’ll be put to good use!)  I remembered my silver “baby” letters and put the Y to use on its own.


My awesome Mom bought some pretty white flowers which we put in a white enamel pitcher with a blue and white striped ribbon tied around it.   In front of that, another silver Y that I picked up somewhere on clearance forever ago.


Again, I used one of the chalkboard markers I’d scored the day before.  I just stuck it in the pitcher full of flowers.  I especially like how this looked.  I’ll be doing it again in the future.  This completed the vignette on the end of the kitchen counter.


My next post will be about the fun we had with a simple dessert.

The decorating was fun, but the quote I always try to remember when I’m entertaining is this:
“It’s not what’s on the plates that matters.  It’s what’s on the chairs.”

So, here are a few pictures of the MOST IMPORTANT things in my house that day.

First, our guests of honor, my brother and his beautiful wife.   This brother of mine is pretty amazing.  He’s never had a hard time remembering that people are what matter most.  I want to be more like him.


My brother blowing out candles on a blazing cupcake:


My parents, working too hard in the kitchen (as usual).


My brother, my sister, her husband and some of the children.


My almost teen-aged son who rarely lets me take pictures of him.


One of my brothers (who I don’t see nearly enough).  He is one of the nicest, most forgiving people I know.


My youngest sister, who is also one of my best friends.


Lastly,the babies, getting to know one another.


Thanks to everyone who came and provided so much fun for us, especially my parents who traveled from Denver to be here.  And congratulations, again, to the graduates!  What a great accomplishment!

Jennifer

Finger Painting

My five and four year-olds got a little creative while I was making dinner recently.


I let them eat some frozen blueberries to keep the whining at bay while I cooked.  They took some liberties with their snack, and decorated the dishwasher as well.


After THIS experience with blueberry juice, I cannot tell you how relieved I was that they limited their canvas to the dishwasher.  Blueberry juice washes off dishwashers.  It does not wash off walls.


It’s wonderful, actually, how quickly they were able to clean the front of the dishwasher.  This is precisely why I was able to smile, take pictures, and call it finger painting.

Did I mention that I recently found another spot in my dining room that has a blueberry stain we didn’t see 2 1/2 months ago when we were scrubbing walls?  It’s about three feet further into the room, beneath the window and behind the curtains.  I’m still wondering HOW that little incident happened!  I’d love to have a replay of that one to watch.  Oh well, you win some, you lose some.  That’s life.

Hopeful Homemaker

Cherry Trees and Hope

I love my cherry trees.

Nearly every day I pause and look out my window to observe them, even in winter.  Even when it seems like nothing is happening.  I’ve learned that when I think nothing is happening, I am mistaken, for one day I’ll see this.


I draw strength from these trees.


Their potential gives me hope.  I want to believe that I have potential like my trees.


Sometimes I feel like I work so hard, but all it amounts to is an occasional bud here or there, and the tree as a whole (my life) seems unchanged.  I wonder how it can possibly add up to anything of value.


My cherry tree tells me to hang on, to have faith that one morning I’ll wake up and the sun will be shining…

… and this will happen.


Some stages of life seem to have very long winters.  My tree helps me hope that spring might still come.


I want to believe that my life can blossom…

…into something as beautiful and productive as my cherry tree.


I hope that someday my life may even be laden with sweet, juicy fruit.


Until then, I sit beneath it’s blooming branches, breathe deeply, and keep hoping.


So if in your life it still feels like winter, I hope you’ll join me in waiting.  There’s a chair out there, if you want to sit and stay a while.

Today I am grateful for cherry trees.

Hopeful Homemaker

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